But heav'n's unchanging, and unerring will, All things obey, and all events fulfill! 'Ev'n these malignant sprites, constrain'd by fate, To man, whom of heaven's creatures most they hate, 'Are instruments of good: unconscious still 'Of what they do, and only bent on ill: 'Gives forth her fragrance, or the violet blows, Springs the bright verdure, waves the golden grain, 'Or the majestic oak embrowns the plain. 'Hence too where space the porous earth supplies Sublim'd by heat, the steaming waters rise, 'Till near the cooler surface they subside, Burst forth in springs, in lucid rivers glide; Upon whose banks perpetual sweets appear, And flowers, and fruits, and foliage, grace the year. 'Salubrious oft they flow, endu'd with force 'Of various minerals, gather'd in their course. The shepherd to the spring his lips applies; ' Unlook'd for health the healing spring supplies: 'The conscious swain his grateful homage pays, And pours his soul to heav'n in pray'r and praise. 'For, to the race of man, from lake and rill, 'The sunny champain, rich with fruits and grain; The gliding river; and the stormy main; • In the still darkness of the fearful night; The moon's fair radiance; Hesper's dewy light; The orient beams that fire the eastern skies; 'A God, a God, the voice of nature cries! 'On him, my son, rely. His aid implore. 'He only can thy Paladour restore. Thou can'st not err, if truth thy course direct, Nor perish if Almighty pow'r protect.' Discoursing thus, they reach the fertile plain, Where that fair river to th' Hibernian main Directs his flood, and proudly o'er the stream, Not far from thence, deep in a shadowy dell, 'In heav'n, who favours virtuous deeds, confide.' Then leads the way. Abrupt the deep descent, And dark with tenfold night. Yet might the eye A few short minutes measure half the way, Which parts the centre of the earth from day. а Nor err'd Ferrara's bard, whose piercing mind The strange effect to magic art assign'd. By fairy hands the glitt'ring dome was rais'd; By fairy pow'r the radiant glory blaz'd. As Cadwall and Melissa nearer drew, Where stood the wizard's tomb reveal'd to view; Forth from the marble breathe melodious airs; The ghost, in strains divine, the will of fate declares; Reveals the subtle train, the guileful sprite, The doleful prison of the luckless knight; And all the terrors of that gloomy cave, Whose dreadful forms might well appall the brave, a Ariosto. 'From yonder column, lo, a golden shield 'Sheds dazzling radiance from its ample field; "Nor does its inner surface, polish'd bright, With force diminish'd, back return the light. 'Bind on thine arm the splendid orb, and know 'How vast a boon the fav'ring fates bestow. Though all the pow'rs beneath the earth who dwell;) 'Though Hecat, threeform'd goddess, weave the spell; 'Whate'er illusion magic art may raise, Its mirror still unclouded truth displays. Grasp too yon sword. Less dreadful flam'd of yore 'The thund'ring weapon bright Escalibore,b "When Uther's son, from lögerne's bed, с 'Foredoom'd a wond'rous birth, around him heap'd the dead. 'Proceed then fearless, where good omens lead: 'Proceed, and conquest crown thy gen'rous deed.' b So called by Drayton. Et gravidam Arthuro fatali fraude lögernen. MILTON. |